Iran’s missile program, long a source of regional anxiety and international scrutiny, is once again in the global spotlight following a dramatic U.S. court case and a series of military and diplomatic escalations. On October 18, 2025, Iran’s arsenal is widely recognized as one of the most versatile and sophisticated in the Middle East, with capabilities that stretch far beyond its borders and reverberate through the corridors of power from Washington to Riyadh and Tel Aviv.
The most recent flashpoint came not on a battlefield, but in a U.S. courtroom. Muhammad Pahlawan, a Pakistani national, was sentenced on October 16, 2025, to 40 years in an American prison for his role in smuggling ballistic missile parts from Iran to the Houthi rebels in Yemen. According to BBC News, Pahlawan’s operation was no small-time affair: it was coordinated by two Iranian brothers, Yunus and Shahab Mir'kazei, who are allegedly affiliated with Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The IRGC, designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States, remains at the heart of Tehran’s missile and regional strategies.
The smuggling saga began in earnest in October 2023, when Pahlawan made his first successful voyage, followed by another in December. Using the fishing boat Yunus, he and a crew of Pakistani nationals—many of whom, according to court testimony, had no idea what they were transporting—loaded heavy packages at the Iranian ports of Konarak and Chabahar. The cargo: Iranian-made ballistic missile parts, anti-ship cruise missile components, and a warhead. The journey was perilous, and Pahlawan himself seemed well aware of the risks. In text messages to his wife before the January 2024 voyage that would lead to his arrest, he wrote, "Just pray that [we] come back safely... Such is the nature of the job, my dear, such is the nature of the job."
The operation’s final leg was as dramatic as its cargo was deadly. Near the coast of Somalia, the missile parts were transferred to another boat, which would then make its way to Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. The Houthis, who have launched sustained missile and drone attacks on Israel and targeted commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, have long been accused by the U.S., U.K., Israel, and Saudi Arabia of receiving Iranian arms. Iran, for its part, has consistently denied these allegations.
The January 11, 2024, U.S. military operation to seize the Yunus was not without tragedy. Two U.S. Navy Seals drowned during the boarding, a stark reminder of the human costs behind headlines and court verdicts. According to court documents cited by BBC News, Pahlawan attempted to evade identification as the captain, ordering his crew to lie and threatening them with dire consequences if they did not comply. "He said, 'Don't tell them that I am the [captain], because I can do serious damage to you guys if you do that'," testified crew member Aslam Hyder. "He started to threaten us... It was about the family and the children, that they will not know about you and you won't know what happened to them."
U.S. prosecutors described the components found aboard the Yunus as "some of the most sophisticated weapon systems that Iran proliferates to other terrorist groups." The seizure was the first Iranian-supplied weapons confiscated by U.S. forces since the Houthis ramped up attacks on vessels in the Red Sea in late 2023. The impact was immediate: within two months, shipping through the Red Sea dropped by 60 to 70 percent, as companies rerouted cargo around South Africa, adding 10 to 12 days and about $1 million in costs per round trip. William Freer, of the Council on Geostrategy, told BBC News, "Within about two months of the initial attacks [in October 2023], shipping transiting through the Red Sea had dropped by about 60% to 70%, and it has stayed at that level ever since, even with the ceasefires."
While the world’s attention has been drawn to these smuggling operations and their consequences, Iran’s broader missile ambitions have only intensified. According to The National Interest, Iran is not only maintaining but increasing the range of its missiles, with a particular focus on being able to strike Israeli territory. A senior IRGC commander told Iranian state media that Iran’s missile arsenal is designed to reach "any targets down the line, particularly Israeli territory." This message was underscored during the war in June 2025, when Iranian munitions reached Israel and, according to the same commander, "limited Israel’s ambitions." Although a ceasefire was ultimately reached following a high-stakes U.S. air campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities, Tehran’s resolve to expand its missile program remains undiminished.
The technical prowess of Iran’s missile forces is formidable. The Fattah 2 hypersonic missile, for example, is touted by Tehran as being capable of evading advanced air defenses and reaching speeds that allow it to penetrate the atmosphere at ranges up to 1,400 kilometers. The Fattah 1, meanwhile, allegedly played a role in striking Haifa, Israel, in the summer of 2025. While Iranian officials claim these are hypersonic weapons, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) classifies the Fattah as a medium-range ballistic missile, cautioning that "its development appears to be aimed at achieving endo-atmospheric and exo-atmospheric manoeuvrability to provide Iran with a more accurate and survivable missile."
Other notable entries in Iran’s arsenal include the Sekkil missile, capable of carrying a 700-kilogram payload up to 1,550 miles—well within striking distance of Israel, which lies roughly 1,240 miles away. The Kheibar and Haj Qasem missiles, with ranges of 1,240 and 870 miles respectively, round out a missile force that is both diverse and deadly. The Haj Qasem, designed for rapid launch, is particularly favored by Iran’s regional proxies—groups like Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen, all of whom have received Iranian support in their ongoing conflicts.
Despite the high-profile seizure of missile parts and the international attention it has brought, Iran’s missile and nuclear ambitions remain undeterred. The IRGC continues to showcase underground missile bases in southern Iran, a not-so-subtle reminder to adversaries that Tehran’s capabilities are both real and resilient. As Maya Carlin of The National Interest notes, "Iran’s continued missile and nuclear ambitions have clearly not been curbed by recent events in the region."
The story of Iran’s missiles is one of technological ingenuity, shadowy smuggling networks, and the constant interplay between regional ambition and international pressure. For now, the world watches as Iran’s arsenal grows ever more sophisticated, and the consequences ripple far beyond the Middle East’s borders.
